A drone was neutralised by jamming its control system as it flew close to Fort Brégançon on Monday, the French press reported. President Macron and his wife are currently staying at the head of state’s summer residence.

The craft fell into the sea after being neutralised by jamming signals, the Prefecture of the Var said. The drone was neutralised, that is to say that the signals from its controller were scrambled. The identity of the person flying the machine is not known.

An investigation was opened by the prosecutor’s office in Toulon for “overflight with unmanned aircraft of a prohibited area.”

Monaco has installed a similar system to down any drones flying over the Principality without permission.